Finally test drove the SMART

[avayan]

New here from the Dallas TX region. Finally got to drive the SMART and must say it feels harder than I expected. The sales girl was pretty good at driving it and making it feel potent enough for it to be appealing to me, but I was not as successful. Clearly she has had much more experience at the wheel, so am guessing it is a matter of time before I can too.

Anybody has had such a similat first experience?

JIQ

[jwight]

Do a search for "transmission" - plenty of feedback there, and also in the Delivery thread from new owners.

[rwj53]

Yes I was very impressed with the interior. Well done, good fit up and I didn't feel like I was in small car. How ever the way it shifted was another story. I could not get used to letting up on the pedal to shift. It seemed a little lathargic but I sure it was because of me and the way I did it. Does the car have a drain plug for oil changes on the 09 and is having no spare tire been an issue for anyone? Everyone passing me had big smiles on their face and thumbs up. That was kinda cool. Thanks

[rwj53]

I went back to the Lake Bluff IL dealership and looked it over again. My wife is in florida with my sister so I decided to drive my mom down there with me. She went nuts and could just not believe all of the room it has for being a micro car. She said the yellow one would be the one she would take home. Jill the sales person was most helpful and just a joy to talk to about this car. She said yellow is a very popular color because of the visibility stand point. I thought that I wanted the red with silver but after going back today I saw it in white with the silver and that was beautiful also, so now I am stumped. I know that I want a passion with the comfort package, tach,clock and alarm system. I will be going to the auto show in milwaukee to look at some other cars for 08 but probably will put in my 99.00 in march.

[Carnut]

With appologies, I couldn't resist a little editing in the quote below. ;)

Originally Posted by avayan

New here from the Dallas TX region. Finally got SMART and must say it feels harder than I expected. The sales girl was pretty good at it and making it feel potent enough, but I was not as successful. Clearly she has had much more experience, so am guessing it is a matter of time before I can too.

Anybody has had such a similar first experience?

JIQ

I would guess that most of us could answer yes to your question.

[StevenM1TX]

Originally Posted by avayan

New here from the Dallas TX region. Finally got to drive the SMART and must say it feels harder than I expected. The sales girl was pretty good at driving it and making it feel potent enough for it to be appealing to me, but I was not as successful. Clearly she has had much more experience at the wheel, so am guessing it is a matter of time before I can too.

Anybody has had such a similat first experience?

JIQ

Driving home last night from the dealer I could tell it would take some getting use to the timing needed. Today I drove about 60 miles around the area and feel pretty good about my skills with it now. I found that lifting a bit just just a moment after I shift does the job nicely. Then plant that foot back down a ways and it takes right off. Already it is about as smooth as the stick shift I have driven very often.

[CruisingAZ]

My wife had not seen it until the TODAY show, she said "Boy, that really is small" Now I have to go check it out at the dealer since they will not call me. Guess they are upset since I will not pay the the doc fees they wanted.

[jediknight36]

Originally Posted by avayan

New here from the Dallas TX region. Finally got to drive the SMART and must say it feels harder than I expected. The sales girl was pretty good at driving it and making it feel potent enough for it to be appealing to me, but I was not as successful. Clearly she has had much more experience at the wheel, so am guessing it is a matter of time before I can too.

Anybody has had such a similat first experience?

JIQ

There is a bit of a lag with the paddle shifters, but not the stick. Personally the arrow is slow is you already know how to drive a stick but the absence of a clutch is nice in traffic.

[Gortok]

Originally Posted by jediknight36

...There is a bit of a lag with the paddle shifters..

Not if you rev it high enough.

[jediknight36]

Originally Posted by Gortok

Not if you rev it high enough.

That may be true. I have only driven it once, and was kind of nervious/excited. That may have been my issue. Cant wait to really take this thing for a ride... another year (sigh).